WHMIS Training in Canada

Related Training & Services

 

WHMIS Implementation Services

 

Go beyond training with expert support to implement WHMIS across your organization. Kalium’s chemists and safety specialists help you review SDS inventories, create compliant workplace labels, and align your internal procedures with Health Canada and CCOHS guidance.

 

CCCR Training (Consumer Chemicals)

 

If your products fall under the Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations (CCCR, 2001), Kalium offers dedicated training on classification, labeling, and packaging rules for consumer products. This program helps manufacturers, importers, and distributors meet Health Canada requirements before going to market.

 

SDS Authoring and Chemical Storage Solutions

 

Strengthen your compliance system with Kalium’s integrated software:

• SDS Authoring Software: create or update SDSs compliant with GHS and WHMIS.
• Chemical Storage Software: map storage locations, identify incompatibilities, and track expiry dates.

 

Together, these tools and trainings ensure your WHMIS program remains accurate, traceable, and audit-ready.

Ask for a demo

 

 

What is WHMIS?

 

WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) is Canada’s system for classifying hazardous products and communicating risks to workers. It is aligned with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and implemented through the HPR under the HPA. WHMIS requires standardized labels, accessible SDSs, and worker education and training that are specific to the hazards present and the tasks performed. Employers must ensure training is provided and refreshed when conditions change or new hazards are introduced.

 

 

Hazard Classes and Pictograms

 

WHMIS uses standardized pictograms and hazard classes to convey risks quickly. Workers learn to recognize the symbols and apply the associated precautions.

Common pictograms and what they signal

• Exploding Bomb: explosives, self-reactives, organic peroxides
• Flame: flammables, pyrophorics, self-heating, emits flammable gas
• Flame Over Circle: oxidizing gases, liquids, or solids
• Gas Cylinder: gases under pressure
• Corrosion: skin corrosion, serious eye damage, metal corrosion
• Skull and Crossbones: acute toxicity (severe)
• Exclamation Mark: skin/eye irritation, skin sensitization, STOT (single exposure)
• Health Hazard: carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory sensitization, STOT (repeated), aspiration hazard
• Environment: aquatic toxicity (may appear on supplier labels from other jurisdictions; not required for WHMIS workplace labels)

Training connects each pictogram and class to practical controls such as segregation, ventilation, PPE, and emergency response.

 

 

Why Organizations Choose Kalium for WHMIS Training

 

WHMIS Training Delivered by Experienced Chemists

 

Our instructors are practicing chemists who translate WHMIS 2015 / WHMIS 2022 requirements into day-to-day tasks. They use examples from manufacturing, labs, distribution, education, and public-sector operations so teams understand how labels, SDSs, and procedures apply on the floor.

 

Flexible, Bilingual Delivery Across Canada (Online or On-Site)

 

Train your workforce by live videoconference or at your facility anywhere in Canada. Sessions are available in English or French and can be scheduled around shifts so you can train entire crews without disrupting operations.

 

Role-Based WHMIS Courses With Certificates

 

Choose the path that fits the job: WHMIS 2015 Training for workers, SDS Interpretation Training for supervisors and JHSC members, and WHMIS Classification Training for professionals who determine classes and categories. Every participant receives a certificate of completion and employers receive documentation to support audits and due diligence.

 

Integrated With Your Chemical Safety Systems

 

Keep training consistent with your documentation by pairing it with Kalium’s SDS Management Software and SDS Authoring Software. When labels and SDSs match what employees learn, programs stay aligned across sites.

 

Practical, Inspection-Ready Outcomes

 

Courses emphasize reading supplier and workplace labels, using SDSs, identifying incompatibilities, and applying safe handling and storage. Guidance reflects Health Canada, CCOHS, TDG, and OSHA HCS principles so teams are ready for real work and real inspections.

 

 

Ready to Schedule Your WHMIS Training with Kalium Solutions?

 

Empower your team with WHMIS training developed and delivered by expert chemists. Available online or on-site across Canada, our bilingual programs keep your organization compliant, efficient, and inspection-ready.

Ask for a demo or contact an expert to get started today.

 

 

FAQ About WHMIS Training

 

What is WHMIS 2015 training and who is it for?

 

The 2015 WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) training is mandatory in Canada. Its purpose is to inform workers about the dangers posed by chemicals and hazardous materials used in their work environments. This training has been updated following the 2022 revision of WHMIS with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS revisions 7 and 8).

WHMIS training is divided into two main components:

• The information component is the general part that explains the different pictograms, their meanings, the different hazard classes and categories, and the information contained in a material safety data sheet (SDS) and on a compliant label. 
• The training component is the customized part that informs workers about the hazards present in their workplace. It covers, in particular:
• the applicable guidelines for the safe use, handling, storage, warehousing, and disposal of hazardous products; 
• precautions to be taken with regard to fugitive emissions, intermediate products, and hazardous residues present in the workplace; 
• the procedure to follow in case of emergency; 
• the location where the safety data sheets are kept and how to access them.
• Any other customized information.

This training is primarily intended for:

Anyone who handles or uses hazardous products in industrial, educational, laboratory, maintenance, or other settings.

 

WHMIS resource persons responsible for chemical safety in their workplace.

 

How does this training cover the changes from WHMIS 1988 to WHMIS 2015 (GHS)?

 

The WHMIS 2015 training was developed to clarify the main differences between the WHMIS 1988 and the new harmonized WHMIS 2015 system, which includes GHS standards. It updates terminology, explains the new pictograms, and reviews the new classification as well as labeling and safety data sheet requirements.

 

What specific topics are covered in the WHMIS 2015 training course?

 

The WHMIS 2015 training covers a range of topics essential to ensuring worker safety when dealing with hazardous products. It is designed to comply with Canadian and provincial regulations. 

The following topics will be covered:

• Regulations origin
• Physical hazards (20 classes, categories and sub-categories)
• Health hazards (12 classes, categories and sub-categories)
• Mandatory requirements and information according to the hazard classes
• All 16 Safety Data Sheet (SDS) sections
• Labelling and packaging requirements
• Workplace Label (WPL)
• Storage and incompatibilities
• Exceptions and exemptions
• Procedure to follow in an emergency

 

Upon completion of the training, what will I be able to do?

 

After completing the Kalium Solutions WHMIS 2015 training, you will be able to identify, understand, and manage the hazards associated with chemicals in your workplace. 

Specifically, you will be able to:

• Identify hazard pictograms
• Read and interpret labels
• Use safety data sheets (SDS)
• Apply preventive measures
• Respond in the event of an incident
• Protect yourself 
• Work safely

In short, you will know how to work in a safe environment, in accordance with current regulations, while protecting your health and that of your colleagues.

 

How long does the WHMIS 2015 training take to complete?

 

Our WHMIS training is generally 4 hours long in order to fully cover all aspects of the hazardous product regulations. It includes practical exercises for each of the modules covered, to ensure that learning is fully integrated. The training also concludes with a knowledge evaluation. Shorter or more detailed training courses are available upon request to best suit your workplace.

 

Is there a certificate provided upon successful completion of the training?

 

Yes, a personalized certificate will be given to each participant.

 

How does this training help my company meet its legal obligations under WHMIS?

 

WHMIS is based on the principle of workers' “right to know.” WHMIS 2015 training is much more than just a course. It is a legal and strategic tool that will enable you to fulfill your obligations under Canadian occupational health and safety laws. The law requires all employers to inform and train their employees about the hazards associated with dangerous products in the workplace. Each province, including Quebec through the LSST and RSST, sets its own rules, but they are all based on the principles of WHMIS 2015.

 

Can this WHMIS 2015 training be customized for our specific workplace needs?

 

Yes, indeed! We can tailor the WHMIS 2015 training to meet your company's needs. To do so, we will take into account the hazardous products you use, the industry you work in, and the risks specific to your environment. By customizing the training, your company will increase its efficiency, regulatory compliance, and, above all, the actual safety of its employees.

 

What are the qualifications of the instructors who provide the WHMIS 2015 training?

 

Kalium Solutions' WHMIS trainers are all experienced chemists with a wide range of technical, pedagogical, and regulatory skills. As experts, they can effectively share their knowledge, helping you reduce the risk of accidents and incidents.

Their qualifications include:

• Experienced specialists in chemistry and regulations
• In-depth knowledge of WHMIS and GHS
• Experienced writers of safety data sheets (SDS) and WHMIS labels
• Knowledge of emergency response procedures and preventive measures
• Ability to lead groups and adapt content to the target audience (workers, managers, etc.)

Approved trainers by the Quebec Commission des partenaires du marché du travail

 

How do I enroll myself or my team in the WHMIS 2015 training?

 

You can contact us through our \"Contact an expert!\" boxes on the various pages of our website, or by calling 450 906-6999.